136 
rREY-MEADED 
OR ^ffiADAGASCAR BoVE- 
IRD. 
Psittacus canus, Russ. 
Synonyms: Agapornis cana, Psittacus canus, 6ml.; 
Psittacus polyocar, Rest.; Polyopsitta cana, Bp., etc.j Psittacula 
Madagascariensis, Fnsch.; Psittacula ca/tia, Lss., etc. 
Gebman; Per graulwpfige Zwergpapagei. 
C LOSELY resembling tbe two previous species in size and general 
appearance, the Madagascar Love-bird is perhaps the least desirable 
of all three as an inmate of the aviary, in consequence of its intolerably 
quarrelsome disposition: some amateurs have, nevertheless, found it 
harmless, and Dr. Russ himself appears to have had individuals of this 
species that differed vastly in character, for on page 255 of his PLand- 
hooli, paragraph 419, he says: “The little Grey -head (G-raulcopfchen) is 
one of the most desirable inhabitants of the bird-room, and is to be 
prized above them all, as the most charming, most peaceable, and most 
readily nesting of birds.” 
On the very next page the doctor remarks: ‘^'^Look out how you place 
a pair, or an old male, in the same cage with small birds, for it will 
murderously (morderisch) bite their legs :” and such has been our ex- 
perience, not only in a cage, but in a large bird-room: whence we 
were compelled to remove them, after the loss of several of the inmates. 
The general colour of these birds is green, but the head, neck, and 
upper breast of the male are pale lavender; the female is green, and 
can only be distinguished from a Passerine Parrakeet (^Psittacus pas- 
serinus), or from the female of the Blue-winged Parrakeet [Psittacus 
gregarius), by the black spots on her tail. 
Several amateurs, both in Germany and in this country, have sue- 
